Herb

When to Plant Basil

The king of herbs. Basil and tomatoes are best friends in the garden and in the kitchen.

Sun

Full sun (6-8 hours)

Water

1 inch per week

Days to Harvest

50-75

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

12"

Frost Tolerance

none

The Short Answer

Basil is frost-sensitive. Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost, or transplant nursery plants outside 2 weeks after your last frost. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Basil

Basil is the king of herbs and the essential companion to tomatoes — in both the garden and the kitchen. Pinch the growing tip above the second set of true leaves to encourage branching; a pinched plant produces 4 stems where one grew. Remove flower buds immediately — once basil flowers, leaf production slows and flavor changes. Succession plant every 3 weeks for fresh basil all season, or grow enough to make a year's supply of pesto in one August session. Sweet Genovese is the pesto standard; Thai basil is heat-tolerant; African Blue basil is the best for humid climates.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Begin basil seeds indoors 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Seeds need soil temperatures of at least 60°F to germinate, which typically takes 5-10 days. Provide 14 hours of light per day using a south-facing window or grow lights.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 2 weeks after your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 60°F. Harden off seedlings for 7 days before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.

Direct Sowing

Basil can be direct sown 2 weeks after your last frost date. Plant seeds 0.25" deep, spaced 12" apart.

Growing Tips

Pinch off flower buds to keep leaves producing. Harvest from the top down, cutting just above a leaf pair. Succession plant for season-long supply.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Tomatoes Peppers Oregano

Keep away from:

Sage

Basil Planting Dates by State

Click your state for basil planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026